Ocean Wave
Power

Wave
power devices extract energy directly from surface waves or from
pressure fluctuations below the surface. Renewable energy analysts
believe there is enough energy in the ocean waves to provide up to 2
terawatts of electricity. (A terawatt is equal to a trillion watts.)

Wave
power can't be harnessed everywhere. Wave-power rich areas of the
world include the western coasts of Scotland, northern Canada,
southern Africa, Australia, and the northeastern and northwestern
coasts of the United States. In the Pacific Northwest alone, it's
feasible that wave energy could produce 40–70 kilowatts (kW)
per meter (3.3 feet) of western coastline. The West Coast of the
United States is more than a 1,000 miles long

Wave
energy will have a small breakthrough in the next few months when the
three Pelamis machines will be deployed in the ocean off the
Portuguese coast this spring. And there are further near-term
projects in the works for England, Scotland and Spain

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WAVE
POWER IN AUSTRALIA

Ocean
waves represent the most concentrated form of renewable energy and
abundant resources are available around Australia's lengthy coastline
~ the energy density of surface
waves can average 40 megawatts per kilometre of coastline

A
shoreline device that uses about 40 metres of coastline, the
Energetech Wave Energy System is suitable for fairly deep water, as
well as coastal sites such as harbour breakwaters, rocky headlands
and cliffs.

The
prototype will produce electricity at around 15 cents per kWh;
however, estimates of second-generation devices put production at
between 5 and 16 cents per kWh depending on the local wave climate.

This
makes it as economical as wind power and cheaper than most forms of
solar power. Many remote locations and island communities currently
pay up to 60 cents per kWh for electricity derived from diesel.

Wave
power also has enormous benefits for greenhouse gas reduction. The
demonstration project itself will have sufficient power to service
the requirements of around 150 households. With the support of the
Port Kembla Port Corporation and the Wollongong City Council,
preparations for the installation of the first generator are well
under way. The system will have a peak capacity of
500kW and will save around 1,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas annually.

Energetech
thinks that with Australia's competitive advantage in the industry in
the medium term, there is huge export potential for sales of up to
A$5 billion per annum on the world market.

As
it is based around a number of existing proven technologies such as
ocean buoys, marine-quality hydraulics and conventional moorings, the
unit is estimated to have a useful life of at least 30 years.

The projections indicate that
within a decade wave energy devices could be globally producing the
equivalent of 270,000MWh per annum of power, which would have a
profound impact on total worldwide greenhouse emissions.